UK Athletics and Former Head of Sport Charged in Paralympic Athlete's Death

UK Athletics and its former head of sport, Keith Davies, face manslaughter charges related to the 2017 death of Abdullah Hayayei, a United Arab Emirates Paralympian. The charges stem from an incident at a London training facility where Hayayei was struck by a falling metal pole.

Hayayei, 36, was training at Newham Leisure Centre in east London on July 11, 2017, when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Davies, 77, and UK Athletics Limited, the national governing body, have been formally charged with gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety offenses. The charges against the governing body include corporate manslaughter. The incident involved a metal cage falling on Hayayei during training for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships.

Both UK Athletics and Davies are scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court on January 31, 2024. Further details and potential sentencing will follow the court proceedings.